[TN-Bird] Kookie cuckoo chase!!!!!

From: Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 13:45:58 EDT
At approximately 6:30 AM today, I awakened to the sounds of screaming blue 
jays in the neighborhood of Charlotte Park in West Nashville just a little east 
of the old Cleece's Ferry Landing and boat ramp.  These birds were obviously 
IN CHASE.  I scrambled out of bed as quickly as I could and got to my deck just 
in time to see five jays chasing "a bird" out of a neighbor's tree to the 
south of me.  Over beside I-40, another three blue jays took over the chase as 
the bird was taking a breather before taking off again.  Those birds chased it 
west toward the forested area that is rimmed by Cabot Drive, Annex Avenue, 
Cleece's Ferry approach (AKA Old Hickory Blvd.) and the Cumberland River.  I 
thought the excitement was over and had not been able to see the bird being 
chased 
well enough to identify it as it was being blocked by trees.  Just as I 
started back into the house, I heard screaming blue jays headed in my direction 
again.  I looked just in time to see them chase what appeared to be a cuckoo 
into 
a tree a couple of back yards to my west.  It barely got settled on a branch 
before the five blue jays that had chased the previous bird from my yard went 
to take over the chore started by the eight from over Cleece's Ferry way.  The 
five chased the bird--a gorgeous yellow-billed cuckoo--into one of my trees 
just at a great angle for me to see its lovely tail markings before the jays 
pounced at it and the cuckoo chase began again.  This went on for three 
circlings 
of the same route with those kookie blue jays working as relay teams on this 
chase.  There were always eight blue jays chasing from the boat ramp area to 
my house, my five would fly to the neighbor's to take over, then three would 
meet them over at I-40.  There may have been another team in between that I did 
not see.  I have never witnessed this kind of "organization" among jays before 
that I can recall, but it was most evident this morning that these jays had 
this cuckoo (these cuckoos) on their list of birds they did not want in their 
territory and were determined to rid the area of it.  It was a thrill to watch, 
AND this was a new yard bird for me--one that I NEVER expected to see in this 
yard.  I was also unaware that jays had animosity toward cuckoos, or if I 
ever heard it, I forgot about it.  Is this common?

At 10:35 AM, I was at my kitchen sink when a smashingly beautiful male 
ruby-throated hummingbird made a pass at my feeder without stopping to imbibe.  
I 
THINK it saw me in the window and got spooked causing it to fly off toward the 
river.  I have not see it since, but this is my FIRST ever spring hummer.  I 
have never had them before July in the past when they stop to feed as they 
begin 
their winter sojourn.

On Thursday and Friday, an adult Cooper's hawk flew through my yard and took 
the identical flight path between the trees at about mid-tree in altitude 
through five neighbors' back yards on both day.  Yesterday, it flew across my 
deck 
with a catch in its talons, then picked up its route at the Northeast corner 
of my yard.  It has been a while since I saw any Cooper's, but I suspect this 
was one of the older adult pair that seem to live in the area.  The last time 
I saw my "Immy" Coop, it was turning color quickly into becoming an adult 
Cooper's.  I suspect that it has, by now, been banished from the territory by 
the 
older birds.

At any rate, birding was good this morning.  Hope it just keeps on 'a keepin' 
on!

Cheers & prayers,

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN
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[TN-Bird] Kookie cuckoo chase!!!!!

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